Wheel disc offset attachment to wheel rim

ABSTRACT

A wheel outer body portion interfits a rim outboard hump, and insert structure on that outer body portion attaches to the rim proximate a rim annular wall between the hump and a rim well portion. Wheel brake structure is bounded by the rim, the wheel body in part axially offset from the brake structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation-in-part of our prior application Ser.No. 176,083 filed Aug. 7, 1980.

This invention relates generally to the construction of wheels, and moreparticularly concerns the connection of vehicle wheel bodies to wheelrims.

In the past, it was known to connect steel wheel discs to steel rims, asby riveting or spot (or arc) welding the disc outer flange to the rimwell. The latter is that part of the rim which is closest to the wheelaxis. As a result, the disc or a portion thereof occupied the zoneradially inwardly of the well.

Recently, need has developed for displacing the body (disc or spider)out of that zone, which means that it can no longer be connected to therim well. For example, there is need to displace the rim to align thetire with the steering centerline, which is displaced inward of thebrake by the location of the universal joint required in the axle of afront wheel drive vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide a solution to the aboveneed. At the same time it is another object to facilitate connection ofthe rim to the body where they consist of dissimilar metallic materials.

Basically, the invention which meets the described need is embodied in awheel body especially adapted for connection to a tire mounting rimhaving an inboard hump and bead seat, a well portion, an outboard hump,an outboard bead seat portion at the outboard side of the outboard hump,and an annular wall between that well portion and the outboard hump. Thespecial body has:

(a) an annular outer portion extending about the body axis;

(b) that outer portion also having a first annularly extending surfacewhich faces radially outwardly and is located to interfit the outboardhump; and

(c) there being means on the body outer portion to attach to the rimproximate the described annular wall thereof.

As will appear, such means advantageously comprises an insert to thebody exposed for weld connection to the rim annular wall, the insert andrim consisting of the same metallic material, whereby the body may thenconsist of another metallic material; the insert may have L-shape withone leg to project into the body outer annular portion and another legexposed to be welded to the rim; multiple of such inserts may beemployed, about the wheel axis; and the location of the inserts enablesthe body to remain outside (i.e. axially offset from) the space radiallyinwardly of the rim well. Further, wheel brake structure may thereby belocated in said space, for optimum compactness, making room for the axleuniversal joint.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as thedetails of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understoodfrom the following description and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary section in an axial radial plane, through awheel incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section through a portion of wheel spider to beconnected to the rim of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation, on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section on lines 4--4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wheel insert incorporation theinvention;

FIG. 6 is an elevation showing the wheel with multiple inserts;

FIGS. 7-10 are views like FIG. 1, showing modifications; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation in section showing the invention as appliedto a wheel rim extending about brake structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a wheel 10 includes a spider 11 and a rim 12. The spider isillustrative of one form of wheel body, there being other forms such asdiscs. The illustrated spider has a center hub portion 13, an outerannular portion 14, and radially extending spider legs 15 integral withthe portions 13 and 14, and spaced apart about central axis 16.

Elements of the rim 12 are defined and identified as follows:

    ______________________________________                                        Identifying Number                                                                             Element (annular)                                            ______________________________________                                        18               outboard flange                                              19               outboard bead seat radius                                    20               outboard bead seat                                           21               outboard hump                                                22               well bend (radius)                                           23               well                                                         24               inboard leg                                                  25               inboard hump                                                 26               inboard flange                                                26a             inboard bead seat                                            ______________________________________                                    

The metallic rim typically is annular and has substantially constantthickness.

In accordance with the invention, the body outer annular portion 14 isadapted to interfit and attach to the rim in the generally L-shapedrecess formed by and between the elements 21 and 22; thus, the bodyouter annular portion 14 has a first annularly extending surface 27which faces radially outwardly and is located to interfit the innersurface of the hump 21, at the hump radially innermost crest 28. Therounded extent 21a of the hump is adapted to flex slightly toaccommodate this close interfit. Accordingly, that interfit acts tocenter the wheel body and rim, coaxially. In addition, the body outerportion 14 has an annular shoulder 50 facing wall 32 (to be described)and adapted to engage same for positioning the body axially relative tothe rim.

Further, means is provided on the wheel body outer portion to attach tothe rim, proximate the well bend 22. Accordingly, the body and rim arerelatively coaxially centered, and integrally attached to one another todefine a wheel unit; further, the attachment is characterized aslocating the body 11 generally to the left (in FIG. 1) of the zone 30inwardly of the well 23, as may be required for certain wheel designs;and still further, the attachment allows for dissimilar body and rimmetallic compositions, as will be clear from the following description.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the means referred to typically andadvantageously takes the form of an insert in the body and exposed forweld connection to the rim annular wall 32 which forms an outwardcontinuation of the bend 22 and which extends between said bend 22 andthe hump 21. As shown, the insert 33 is in the form of a thin platewhich is L-shaped in section in axial radial planes. The section has afirst leg 33a penetrating the body outer portion, for secure retention.As is clear from FIG. 4, the first leg 33a typically has one or moreholes 34 therein and into which body material is received, duringmolding or casting of the body, whereby the insert has shoulders 35interfitting the body material in those holes to block withdrawal of theinsert from the body.

The insert section shown in FIG. 1 also has a second leg 33b exposed atthe side of the body outer portion 14, to be weld connected to the rim,at 36 (i.e. proximate to outer rim wall 32 and bend 22). Theconstruction facilitates the use of an insert consisting of the samemetallic material as the rim (as for example steel, whereas the castbody 11 may consist of another or a dissimilar metallic material (as forexample aluminum).

In addition, it its original condition, i.e. at the time of casting thewheel body with the insert (or inserts spaced about axis 16) in place,the insert includes an extension in the form of a third leg 33cprojecting generally radially outwardly and used to position the insertduring such connection to the body outer portion 14. For example, it maybe gripped by a clamp over area 38 and/or pins through locater 38a asshown in FIG. 3. Subsequently, the third leg may be removed, as bybending and fracture thereof along weakening score line 39 shown in FIG.2. Note that leg 33c extends in the general direction of leg 33b, andmay comprise an extension thereof.

Multiple of the inserts may be spaced about the wheel, which is shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

The alternate configurations in FIGS. 7-10 are generally like FIG. 1,except for the shape of the insert. In FIG. 7, the insert 200 has Zshape, with legs 201, 202 and 203. Legs 201 and 202 penetrate body 14,and leg 203 is exposed to be welded at 204 to bend 22.

In FIG. 8 the insert 300 again has L-shape, with legs 301 and 302. Leg301 and part of leg 302 penetrate body 14. The remainder of leg 302projects from the body and beneath well 23, for weld connection to thelatter at 303.

In FIG. 9 the insert 400 has reverse L-shaped configuration, with legs401 and 402. Leg 401 penetrates body 14, and leg 402 extends upwardlyfrom insert bend 403 to engage rim wall 32 at 404. The insert bend 403is weld connected at 405 to the rim bend 22.

In FIG. 10, the insert 500 includes legs 501 and 502. Leg 501 penetratesthe body 14, and leg 502 projects from the body in the same generalplane of leg 501, for weld connection at 503 to the rim well 23.

Removable insert legs (additional) appear at 206, 304, 406, and 504.These correspond to leg 33c in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 11, the rim 512 of wheel 510 corresponds, generally, to rim 12in FIG. 1. Rim 512 elements 518, 519, 520, 521, 521a, 550, 532, 522,523, 524, 525, 526a and 526 correspond to rim 12 elements 18, 19, 20,21, 21a, 50, 32, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26a and 26.

Wheel spider 511 has a central hub portion 513, an outer annular portion514, and radially extending spider legs 515 integral with portions 513ad 514, and spaced apart about central axis 516. Other forms of wheelbodies may be employed, such as discs.

Body outer annular portion 514, and insert 533 correspond to elements 14and 33 in FIG. 1; further, elements 527, 528, 533, 533a, 533b and 536correspond to elements 27, 28, 33, 33a, 33b and 36 in FIG. 1.

The zone 530 radially inwardly of the wheel well is occupied by brakestructure indicated generally at 540. That structure includes a brakedisc 541 mounted on an axle, as indicated at 542; brake pads or shoes543 and 544 at opposite sides of the disc to engage the latter; acaliper 545 mounting pad 544, and body structure 546 mounting pad 543. Abrake actuator or actuators 547 effect leftward retraction of thecaliper 545, which is suitable mounted as by stub shafts 548 to slidethereon via bearings 549. Structure 550 mounts shafts 548. Wheel hub 513mounts to axle 542 as via stud bolts 551 and nuts 551a and structure552. The universal joint location is indicated at 560, inward of thebrake and rim. The brake may alternatively be of drum type.

All of the elements 540-550 are located within the rim central zone 530,whereby a very compact wheel and brake assembly is provided. Theattachment of the wheel outer annular portion 514 to the rim, asdescribed, facilitates the location of the brake structure within zone530.

We claim:
 1. In combination with a metallic wheel rim adapted to mount atire, the rim having an inboard hump, a well portion, an outboard hump,an outboard bead seat portion at the outboard side of the outboard hump,and an annular wall between said well portion and said outboard hump,(a)a wheel body having a radially thickened annular outer portion extendingabout an axis defined by the body, (b) said body outer portion having afirst annularly extending surface which faces radially outwardly andlocally interfits a radially innermost crest of said outboard hump andbeadseat portion at the radially inner side thereof, (c) generallyL-shaped insert means on said body outer portion attaching to said rimproximate said annular wall thereof and proximate a bend defined by theL-shape, (d) said body also having a second annularly extending surfacewhich faces generally axially and locally interfits said rim annularwall, said second surface located proximate to and radially outwardly ofthe bend defined by said L-shaped insert, said thickened annular portionconfined at the outboard hump side of said rim annular wall, (e) andincluding wheel brake structure in a zone radially bounded by the rimoutboard hump and by said thickened annular portion and insert, thewheel body axially offset from said brake structure.
 2. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said (c) insert means has a first leg spaced radiallyinwardly of said body first annularly extending surface and confined insaid thickened annular outer portion.
 3. The invention of claim 2wherein said (c) insert means includes a second leg projecting from thebody and exposed for weld connection to said rim proximate said annularwall thereof and proximate said bend, said second leg located generallyradially inwardly of said body second surface.
 4. The invention of claim3 wherein the body consists of a metallic material dissimilar to theinsert material, the insert projecting into the body and havingshoulders interfitting the body to block withdrawal of the insert fromthe body.
 5. The invention of claim 3 wherein said insert has generallyL-shaped section in axial radial planes, said insert first legpenetrating into the body outer portion.
 6. The invention of claim 5wherein said insert second leg is exposed at and adjacent the side ofthe body outer portion, to project generally radially inwardly.
 7. Theinvention of claim 6 wherein said insert has an extension projectinggenerally radially outwardly for positioning the insert duringconnection of the first leg to the body outer portion.
 8. The inventionof claim 6 including multiple of said inserts spaced about said bodyouter portion.
 9. The invention of claim 6 wherein said wheel rim towhich said means is attached, defines a curved flexing portion outwardlyof said bend.
 10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said wheel rim havingsaid annular wall to which said insert is attached, defines a curvedflexing portion outwardly of said bend.
 11. The invention of claim 9wherein said insert and said wheel rim consist of the same metallicmaterial.
 12. The invention of claim 1 wherein the wheel body is locatedsubstantially entirely at the rim outboard hump side of the rim well.13. The invention of claim 1 in which said wheel brake structureincludes a brake disc, brake pads at opposite sides of the disc, acaliper, and actuator means operating to transmit braking force toeffect gripping of the disc by the pads.